Written by Megan Ryan

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If you are attending a writing or editing conference for the first time, you might have some questions about what to do beforehand to get the most out of your experience.

It’s normal for me to be nervous about a new event, but I find that knowledge and preparation set me up for success. Here are my top tips:

1. Volunteer

If the conference asks for volunteers, seriously consider it. Volunteering can be a great way to meet people and ease into making connections while also serving others.

I am the volunteer coordinator at the Well Conference for Christian Creatives, so this advice may seem self-serving, but I also follow it! I volunteered my first time attending the Well, and I was a virtual volunteer in 2025 at a new-to-me conference. I’ve also offered to be a host for PENCON (a virtual conference for Christian editors) in 2026.

2. Set goals

Knowing what you hope to accomplish can help you set your priorities. While you can expect to learn from experts and meet new people (among other goals), deciding which is most important might help you decide what activities to focus on.

For example, if your main goal is learning, you probably wouldn’t choose to continue a conversation and miss the next teaching.

When I’ve made networking my top goal, I’ve chosen the sessions I thought the people I wanted to meet would attend.

3. Read all the conference info

Make sure you read all the relevant information on the conference website and in the emails you’ve gotten since registration. The organizers have probably shared what is most important for you to know ahead of time.

If you need to sign up for certain sessions or appointments before you arrive, you don’t want to miss out. At a writing conference, you may have opportunities to share your book proposal or one sheet, and you need to be ready for those as well.

4. Read up on faculty/agents/editors

Spend some time finding out about the faculty members (and, for some writing conferences, agents and acquisitions editors) who will be there. Read their bios on the conference website and decide who you would be most interested to meet or learn from.

For the top few, research more about them. Look at their websites, social media, and articles about them. You’ll get insight on their expertise and specialties. This is especially important for anyone you hope to schedule an appointment with.

5. Plan for appointments—even if you’re scared

Many conferences allow you to schedule one-on-one appointments with faculty, agents, or editors. Some will have this registration ahead of time, and some will offer it when you arrive. Make sure you know what the process will be and if there are any additional costs.

It might seem intimidating to sit down with someone who is experienced or well known in the industry. But I urge you to make some appointments even if you’re nervous.

If you can make an appointment specifically to pitch a book, carefully select who might be a good fit for your book based on their stated preferences. Also follow any instructions given about what to bring.

If the appointments are more for general conversation, it can be nice to have some specific topics and questions ready. Discussing the other person’s experience and your current plans or struggles can be insightful.

One regret about my first time attending the Well is that I didn’t make any appointments. But every year I’ve been at PENCON, I’ve made sure to grab my allotted meetings.

6. Think about what sessions to attend

Some conferences have multiple sessions going on simultaneously. For example, the Well has eight tracks with breakouts happening at the same time. PENCON holds two sessions concurrently.

There are times when you may need to sign up for sessions beforehand, so be sure you’ve read the conference info! Even if you don’t need to decide before you arrive, it can be helpful to be familiar with the options and think about your preferences.

I usually go into an event with a plan of which sessions to attend, but I sometimes change my mind once I’m there. A conference buddy might be going to something different, or I learn more about a speaker that intrigues me.

7. Create your introduction

You’ll meet many new people, so it can be handy to have a short introduction about you and your work ready to share.

There’s a framework for an introduction in the secular book Networking for Freelance Editors that you might find useful. (It’s also available in the Conference-Prep Guide on the Networking Studio website.)

This can be especially helpful as an editor at a writing conference. I was a little flustered at my first one when asked what I wrote (since I am not a writer/editor). Having a couple of sentences ready to share would have been helpful.

8. Print business cards

If you’re going to be at an in-person event, it is beneficial to have business cards. There might be a table for attendees to leave a stack, but it’s probably more effective to hand them to people you’ve connected with.

If you’re at a virtual conference, having your contact info (email, website, socials) ready to copy into a chat where you’ve made connections can be handy.

Conclusion

Editing and writing conferences are wonderful places to learn and network. Being prepared can help you get the most out of your time there. If you’re new to the conference scene this year, I hope these ideas help you feel ready. If you’re a conference pro, let us know what other tips you have in the comments.

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